Torero and Pasiphaë Syrah 2022
Vineyards
This Stellenbosch Syrah vineyard located on Karibib has very quickly risen into significance as it produces some of the best Syrah in the country – perpetually covered in clouds, the vineyard sits at the top of Karibib against a strip of fynbos, 300m above sea level. The vines lie in coarse decomposed Polkadraai granite, high in quartz silicate which makes for fast draining soils and concentrated grapes.
The vineyard lies on a steep east facing slope – the only in the region – which reduces afternoon sunlight to a minimum. The sight has a comparative solar radiation level to that of the Cote Rotie.
Winemaking & Maturation
Grapes are handpicked and cooled overnight, the following morning the grapes were placed in an open-top bin to ferment. 100% of the grapes were kept whole-bunch and crushed in the traditional foot-stomping method.
Fermentation and maceration took place over 10 days, with one pump-over per day taking place to sustain cap health, not to extract further. After fermentation the wine was replaced into old 500L French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation was spontaneous and in Autumn the wine was sulphured for the first time.
The wine was bottled on the 16th December 2022 after spending approximately 10 months in barrel.
Tasting Notes
Characteristically peppery, filled with herbal aromatics such as juniper, thyme, lavender and violets.
Technical Details
Alcohol: 14.37%
Residual Sugar: 1.02 g/L
Titratable Acidity: 4.75 g/L
Total SO2: 52
pH 3.81
